Last year, I was 39 and coming off of a broken ankle and after several months I topped my weight at 304 lbs (at 6'2"). Closing in on my 40th birthday and having issues sleeping at night, I decided to make a change. On 4/1/2015, I quit caffeine completely (1-3 sodas/day), I started working out (weights/cardio) and eating cleaner (limiting breads, noodles, dairy and red meat).

A couple months later, I dropped a few pounds but a few symptoms started. I'm a side sleeper and I would wake up very sore, especially my the outside of my deltoids. I also started having bathroom issues. I would normally have a bowel movement 2-3 times a day and was having them 5-6 times a day. I also suddenly had some vision / brain fog / vertigo issues. I noticed an increase in fatigue but thought it was from working out and not having caffeine anymore.

Then during a routine dermatologist apt in mid September, she discovered I had a swollen lymph node at the base of my neck near my collarbone. Needless to say I started to freak the hell out, thinking I had something majorly wrong with me. I thought all my symptoms together ment something bad. I was referred to an ENT who ordered a CT scan of my neck and by the time I went back in to have my scan read, he preformed a physical examination saying my Lymph node was already normalized, CT was clear and it was probably just an infection and that was normal. Unfortunately, I was unable to recover from my mental slide and I had a period of high anxiety that started mid Oct/2015. This is VERY uncommon for me, as I am usually described as mild manner, even tempered and I would not consider myself as stressed. Looking back, I wonder if the anxiety was a symptom since it was so unlike me? I finally worked my way out mentally in March 2016 but the high Cortisol wrecked me (I think). Fatigue and digestive issues were very bad during these times.

I had a bad chiropractor visit on 3/9 that left me with muscle spasms and a sore neck. My Dr. ordered a MRI of my head and neck to rule out MS and other similar disorders. All clear. My Dr suggested that I may have fibromalgia but he ordered a Testosterone test which came back low. He's referred me to a uralogist for a vasectomy and low T consult. Apt is scheduled in July.

Over the last 2-3 months, I've also noticed increased sexual issues with keeping erections, noticed some testicle and member shrinkage, erections not as hard and lower desire.

I stopped working out in January but lately I've been trying to get back into it. Energy levels are starting to improve a little. I bottomed out at 273lbs in March but I'm back up to 282lbs. I went over a year without caffeine but now will occasionally (once in a few weeks) have a soda.

I got glasses in February for the first time but feel like my prescription has changed and my eyes have gotten better. Feel like this was sudden but hey I am 40 now I guess.

So I'm thinking I had boarder-line T levels, working out took me to the low side. Anxiety and high cortisol really pushed it down? At one point, I thought I had Lyme disease since the symptoms are similar. Thyroid issues run in my family with two Aunts and my grandma.

Thoughts? Am I off? What did I miss? What do I ask for at the Urologist in a few weeks?

BP 3/11/2016: 120 over 80Never smokedNo medicationsI take 1000iu of Vit D on average 5 days/week. I was low on a blood test in 2013.I usually drink 4-5 drinks at a time about twice to three times per month

Are those BMs ugent, pain driven, crampy, gassy, watery? If so, you may need to try pepto bismol. If it fixes anything, you have had some adverse bug in your guts. Take three times in one day and one dose the next morning and see what happens.

Thank you for your reply. I'll check out the link and specific tests when I get home from work. "Are those BMs ugent, pain driven, crampy, gassy, watery?"

No, best I can describe is I used to go 2-3 times a day but now I go 5-6 times a day doing about half what I did before. I have a feeling of incomplete evacuation when Im done, hence the hemorrhoid issues. Stool is soft and fluffy most times. Color is good. I've been paying attention for blood (not to say the occult blood test isnt a good idea, just not apparent blood) for months. I've read where caffeine can help with constipation so maybe thats my problem. I'm on week two of fiber suppliment oranage drink in the AM.

"Was ankle fracture unexpected? I am wondering if you have some bone loss". I rolled it in a rut. I thought it was a bad sprain, I waited to long. When I went to Dr. an X ray showed the ligaments from the roll pulled some bone off my shin bones. He said it was too late to immobilize. Took about a year to recover and now I'm mostly pain free except maybe some arthritis before it rains.

"1000iu Vit-D3 probably not enough, many need 5,000-6,000iu" I do 5,000iu in the winter but back it off to 1000iu in the summer and I do get outside. When it was tested I was just below normal.

"TSH could be up from not using iodized salt or vitamins that list iodine+selenium"I'm sorry, I put the results from oldest to newest. Here's the latest:3/11/2016: TSHR 1.36 (.32-5.0 Normal) TSH w Reflex Free T4

Also, I RARELY add salt to my food. My wife cooks and we use: morton's sea salt which looking it up may not have any iodine added. I'll check that when I get home too.

Again, thank you for your reply I've been struggling for about 8-9 months now.

Catching up on your previous post:-age 40-height 6'2"-waist: Pants 38", belly closer to 48"-weight: 280-body and facial hair: Hair thining very little, all my life I've had issues with facial hair being patchy, I've noticed outside eyebrows thining, hairy chest/stomach, hairy butt-describe where you carry fat and how changed. Mainly in belly-testes ache, ever, with a fever? Ache - Yes, mainly in the last 6 months, perhaps 6-10 times. With fever? Not that I have noticed. However, I do feel like I run warm ocassionally (once every few weeks).-how have morning wood and nocturnal erections changed. I rarely have them anymore. Maybe 3 times a month.

I checked my wife's temp, very similar to mine. I have not checked the kids.

Additionally, it sounds like I have the same shoulder problems you do. Do you sleep on your side with your arm underneath the pillow? If so, this is pushing your shoulder out of whack. Try sleeping on your side without your arm underneath the pillow, or keep your arm straight with your palm facing upward.

I am attempting to sleep on my back, but so far I haven't been very successful. A heating pad on the shoulder seems to help.

Funny you mention that. I actually told my doctor "I basically have all the symptoms of Lyme" but he tested my T instead, which TT was clinically low and FT was low normal. I do golf and we've found ticks but I haven't found any on me or any bulls eye rashes.

All experts seem to think 8 ng/dl FT to be indicative of TD. The author, Dr. Abraham Morgentaler also published a 10 ng/dl as also indicative of TD. This is the highest figure mentioned in literature but being at 6-9.8 seems appropriate to me.

After explaining my history and reviewed the last T numbers from my PCP, he said the right things like "I want to get a complete profile to see whats going on." Started to discuss pituitary issues vs hypogonadism, which I completed his sentences from what I've learned on this site. He ordered the E2, LH/FSH (with out me asking) and another T check. I'll post them when I get them back.

150mcg is part of your maintenance intake, assuming that you use iodized salt in kitchen and at the table.

Labs? I tend to not care about what labs values are if there is an iodine deficiency and would rather see labs after iodine issues are addressed. Remember that TSH is high during iodine replenishment and for some time after that. So TSH labs can be skipped or ignored in those cases. Many doctors used to [still probably] think that TSH elevation from taking larger amounts of iodine causes hyperthyroidism, because TSH was there only criteria.

@KSmanIdoine maintenance: Should I expect side effects during the replenishing phase? One of my daughters friends is sick so I'm not sure if I'm catching a bug but I'm day two on the new multivitamin and feel like a truck just ran me over. Diarrhea, feverish, and freezing. I just took an oral temp with a chain store branded IR thermometer and was getting anywhere from 97.7 to 98.1. Couple hours later its 98.6 to 99.8.

Thyroid issues run in my family. My grandmother had a goiter and had her Thyroid removed. One aunt is Hypo and another is Hyper. Neither of my parents have had a known issue.